The Right Choice: Commanders 5-round mock draft cements faith in Sam Howell

A lot can still change between now and the end of this season, but for right now, the Washington Commanders own the no. 5 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and might come close to having to make a big decision.

Quarterback Sam Howell leads the league in passing yards, but still makes some rookie-type mistakes. Whether it's taking sacks or turning it over, Howell is far from a finished product. Yet, Eric Bieniemy has done a marvelous job showing us that Howell could, indeed, have a future as this team's franchise passer.

Let's say the Commanders opt to roll with Howell going forward, at least for the coming offseason. With their current crop of draft capital, here's a five-round 2024 NFL mock draft that could make some sense.

With that fifth overall pick, the Commanders go with one of a few edge rushers who could take over as the no. 1 at their position in this class. But, if there's ever a question mark, selecting an Alabama defender is usually the right move.

Dallas Turner gives the Commanders an early replacement for Chase Young and Montez Sweat in their quest to rebuild the line. The 6-foot-4 ultra-athletic pass rusher is a player that flies around on tape, naturally being drawn to the football.

Whether it's rushing the passer or stopping the run, Turner does it at an elite level. He can also drop back into coverage, at times, depending on scheme. So far in 12 games this season, he's racked up 8.0 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.